Chris Tucker remains in that limbo of people who have once been very, very famous and then for reasons unknown to them or the public fall out of the public eye. It’s nothing specific that Tucker did or didn’t do. He didn’t beat up a girlfriend or go to jail or appear on reality TV. But maybe that’s the problem. Tucker, who was both comedian and cult figure after his role as Smokey in the first “Friday” movie and after his three “Rush Hour” movies with Jackie Chan, was looking to do more quality work. But somehow, after the huge successes of those roles, more challenging roles never came. So he took the time out to raise his teenage son and waited for another opportunity.
“When I got to ‘Rush Hour,’ ” he told the N.Y. Times last year. “I felt like: O.K., I’ve proven myself as the pinnacle. Now where’s all the bigger movies?”
When they didn’t come or were too much like the roles he’d already done, he went to what had got him to Hollywood in the first place – comedy. Tucker has been touring since last year on his “Guess Who’s Back” tour. But there is one role that Tucker is being approached for though he has refused it in the past. In March, Ice Cube told the “Sway in the Morning” show on SiriusXM that he’s writing another “Friday” movie and wants Tucker to reprise his role as Smokey. So far, Tucker has not appeared in any of the “Friday” films – 2000’s “Next Friday” and 2002’s “Friday After Next,” – that were made after the first one.
“We was waiting on New Line to cut a check,” Cube told Sway. “They did that, and now, I'm writing the next 'Friday' movie. To me, it's really about not asking Chris over and over again. It's about putting the script in his hand and getting the ball rollin' for real. He's not gonna say yes until he see the script and like what he's doing in the new movie. That, to me, is the next step."
In July, Allhiphop.com posted a photo of Cube and Tucker together and said that Cube confirmed that Tucker would be part of whatever the next “Friday” film happens to be. Regardless of what happens with Smokey, Tucker is still on the road. Here are his next tour dates:
August 17
DALLAS, TX
Verizon Theater at Grand Prairie
8 p.m.
September 2
ATLANTIC CITY, N.J.
Borgata Event Center
8 p.m.
October 13
LAS VEGAS, NV
Pearl Concert Theater at Palms Casino Resort
http://www.ticketmaster.com/event/170048ECD02079B3?artistid=985154&majorcatid=10002&minorcatid=51
8 p.m.
UNCASVILLE, CT
October 26
Mohegan Sun Casino
8 p.m.
http://www.ticketmaster.com/event/1D0048E9CB6E7EDD?artistid=985154&majorcatid=10002&minorcatid=51
October 27, 28
BOSTON, MA
Wilbur Theater
8 p.m.
http://www.ticketmaster.com/event/010048D4B2EF6863?artistid=985154&majorcatid=10002&minorcatid=51
